Manually operated portable washer



Maj; w, mm R, W, C ULT R 2,509,907.

MANUALLY OPERATED PORTABLE WASHER Filed May 17, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet l Inrenter W 1950 R. W. COULTER MANUALLY OPERATED PQRTABLE WASHER 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 17, 1945 MW 1950 R. w. COULTER 2,509,907

MANUALLY OPERATED PORTABLE WASHER Filed May 17, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4Roberi' W172i mour Caz/[fen Patented May 30, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE Robert Whitmour Coulter, Massillon, Ohio, assignor of one-half toGeorge H. Coulter, Massillon, Ohio Application May 17, 1945, Serial No.594,207

Claims.

This invention relates to washing machines and has more specificreference to a portable type which is suitable and practicable for usein washing dishes, cutlery, and utensils, and the like.

More specifically, the form of the invention representing what isbelieved to be a preferred embodiment is characterized by a tanksuitably constructed to sit in a conventional kitchen sink, said tankbeing provided with a hinged cover and said cover being adapted to swingover the usual drainboard and when, inverted, serving as a watercontaining utensil rinsing pan. The tank serves as a receptacle for thewashing water and also as a container for a rotary brush assembly suchas serves to facilitate and insure the desired results.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of the lid or coverequipped tank wherein the lid, when it is turned upside-down, serves asa rinsing pan, the latter being provided with an adjustable prop or legwhich facilitates placement and retention of said pan in a desirableposition to insure convenient and effective results.

Another object has to do with the aforementioned cover equipped coverwherein the tank has an inturned marginal flange which, when said coveris closed, serves to effectively seat itself on the upper edge of theopen top of said tank.

Another object and resulting advantage has to do with the bodilyinsertible and removable dual brush assembly, this characterized by aframe structure to accommodate oppositely rotating brushes, handle meanswhereby said frame structure may be placed in position and removed inrelation to the tank, and crank shaft and gear means suitably and aptlyconstructed to insure appropriate driving of the brushes and practicalmounting of the brush assembly in the tank.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from thefollowing description and the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate likeparts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a so-called portable type dish andutensil washing machine constructed in accordance with the invention,the cover being closed.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of Figure 1 observing the same in adirection from right to left.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view based on Figure l and showing howthe device is placed in a sink with the rinsing pan resting adjustablyon the drainboard.

Figure 4 is a top plan view, this on a scale sufficiently enlarged tobring out the gearing and associated parts in details.

Figure 5 is a central vertical sectional view taken on the plane of theline 5-5 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figures 6 and 7 are transverse vertical sections on the planes of thelines 66 and l'l of Figure 5, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings by the distinguishing reference numerals,it will be seen that the tank, which is of appropriate size and materialis denoted by the numeral Ill. It is of rectangular box-like form and ofsuitable depth. The lid or cover is denoted by the numeral H and this ishingedly attached to one end wall as at [2. The cover is provided with amarginal inturned lip or flange [3 which fits tight and effectively onthe upper edge of the open top of the tank when the cover is closed, asis obvious. In connection with the cover it is to be repeated that it isemployed as a pan to contain water W, this for rinsing purposes. Thus,when the lid is inverted as shown, for instance, in Figure 5, it isdesirable to provide an adjustable leg. This comprises a screw I lhaving a suitably padded head I5 to rest on the drainboard A, said screwbeing threaded into a socket I6 secured by an. attaching disc ll to thelid.

The tank 10 is adapted to sit in the receptacle portion B of the regularsink. The end wall of the tank opposite to the hinge l 2 is providedwith an adapter notch Is to accommodate the associated structure on theinsertible and removable brush equipped washer unit IS. The unit l9comprises a substantially U-shaped frame including a bottom orconnective web 20 with upstanding end Walls 2| and 22. The end walls arebraced by suitable reinforcing rods 23 appropriately secured thereto.They are also provided with bearings to accommodate journals on the topportions 24 of the companion brushes 25 and 26. These are suitablebristle brushes and the adjacent portions thereof slightly overlap foreffective cleansing results. Getting back to the end walls, it will beseen that the wall 2| is provided with an extension 21 having a yoke 28provided with a handle grip 29 (see Figure '7). The numeral 30designates suitable reinforcing webs.

The end wall 22 (see Figure 5) is provided with an extension 3| having alateral upper free end terminal 32 which extends through and outwardlybeyond the adapter notch [8. This extension which serves as a shelf isprovided with a, bearing 33 to accommodate the crank-shaft 34. Aset-screw, which preferably runs in a groove (not shown) in thecrank-shaft, said set-screw bein indicated at 35, is carried by thebearing 33. The inner end of the crank-shaft is provided with a beveledgear 35 and meshed with a companion gear 3'! on the upper end of avertical drive shaft 38, the latter mounted for rotation in a bearing 39on the extension 3!. The lower end of the shaft 38 is provided with abeveled gear 40 to transmit motion to the horizontal driven shafts M and42, these mounted for rotation in suitabl mounted bearings 43. Theadjacent journals on the brushes are provided with beveled pinions 44and 45 with which complemental beveled gears or pinions d and-d'hmesh.The arrangement of the gearing is such that the brushes 25 and 26 areturned in opposite directions, that is, directions opposite to eachother. It is desirable to accomplish this for it has proven to insuremore effective brushing and washing results.

"I have shown :theistructure with the ".parts closed in Figures 1 and 2.However, in Figures 3 and "5 I have shown the parts in elevation andsection to illustrate how the machine iszused.

As evidentgthe tank is placed .in the receptacle portion 48 of the sinkB. The lid is swung to open position and the leg M is adjusted so thatthe rest [5 resides in suitable contact with the drainboard A. The lidthen becomes a .panand the pan is filled with hot water for rinsingpurposes. The main tank Ill is also'filled and, .assuming the brushassembly is therein, the structure is ready for use. By turningthecrank-shaft, the shafts and gearing serve to rotate thebrushes inopposite directions and by holding the dishes andutensils in contactwith the brushes, grease and deposits are readily removed and thearticles'are then readyfor rinsing, this in an ob- .vious manner.

,The'tank and lid can be placed under-the hot water spigot and washed,cleaned and dried ready for next use. The entire brush means canbe'liftedout from the tank and "it too can be washed and reconditionedfor subsequent use.

It will benoted that the extension 32 serves not only as a shelf tosupport a part of the gearing and crankshaft arrangement, but it alsofunctions asga handleand isseated in the keeper .notch J 8. That is tosay, it functions asa handle inconjunction with the hand. grip 29. Thisfacilitates insertingand, removing the entire brush- .unit.

Acareful consideration .of the foregoing description in conjunction iwith the invention as illustrated in the drawings will enable the reader:toobtain ,a clearunderstand-ing and impression .of thealleged featuresof merit andnoveltysufficient to 'clarifythe construction of :theinvention as; hereinafter claimed.

':Minor changes in shape, size, materials :and rearrangement of parts:may be resorted to in actual practice solong as no departure is .madefrom the invention-as claimed.

I-claim:

1.;In a portable dish and utensil washer :of the classdescribed, arectangular box-like casing comprising an open top tank provided withclosure-means, -a bodily insertable and removable fur-shaped frametelescopicallyarranged on the interior of said .tank, said frameincluding parallel vertical end members, said end members havingextensions -attheir upper ends, .one of saidrextensions being providedWitha handgrip, the opposite extension bein directedoutwardly andlaterally to assume ahorizontal position, the adjacent vertical wall ofsaid tank having a notch through and beyond which said last-mentionedextension projects, brushes mounted for rotation in said frame, a crankshaft mounted in a bearing carried by said lastmentioned extension, aplurality of shafts and gears interconnected in operating i-relation,carried-by said U-shaped frame and serving to transmit the motion fromthe rotatable crank shaft to the rotatable brushes in a manner to rotatesaid brushesindirections opposite to each other.

"2. portable dish and utensil washer of the classadescribedcomprising arelatively deep flat "bottomed tank shaped and proportioned to sitfirmly in the customary receptacle portion of a standard-type.-.kitchensink, said tank being of such vertical height that the upper open endthereof extends well above the plane of the sink receptacle portion andthe usual complemental drain-board, and a coverihinged to theupper .openend portion of said tankysaid cover embodying a lid portionandzbordering vertical rimforming walls and being I shallow incomparison to thedepth of said-tankand, whenswun over the drain-boardand inverted serving as a pan forwwater used in rinsing-dishes and:utensils, the vertical rim-walls of said cover being =marginallyprovided with a horizontal inturned anti- .splash .flange'adapted1torest on the upper open edge portion ofthe tank when the cover isclosed over said'tank, a singleradjustable leg-mounted oentrallyon thelid portion of said cover, said leg having a headadaptedito restincontactwith a drain-board in.amannertoregirlate the'position and level:of the .cover when .the latter is swung open and used as theaforementioned rinsing pan.

The structure specified inzclaim '2, said .adjustable'leg'beingintheiform of aheadedsetscrew, and a screw threaded socket mounted on said'lid portion, said set-screw'being threaded into said socket.

4."In a portable dishand utensil washerof the class described, an opentop tank provided with closure means, a bodily insertable and removableU-shaped frame fitted-telescopically and snugly on the interior of saidtank, said. U-shaped frame including vertical end members, said endmembers being provided-on'their respective upper end portions withextensions, one of said extensions bein providedwith a hand-'grin'theopposite and remainingextensionhaving an outwardly and laterallydirected terminal portion disposed in a, horizontal plane, the vcoaotingand projecting wall of said tank being formed with 'anotch andsaidlaterally directed portion of the 'extensiombeing fittedin' andextending outwardlybeyond'said notch and the adjacent wall ofsaid'tankbrushes' rotatably mounted for .operation of said'U-shapedframeyand means "on said frame connected with said brushes formechanically driving the brushes.

5. 'A'por'table dish and utensil washer of the .class describedcomprising a.relatively deep flat bottomed tank shaped and proportionedto sit 'firmly'in theusualreceptaole portion of a standard-type kitchensink having a drain board, said tank being of such vertical height'thatthe upper open end thereof extends well above the plane of thesinkreceptacle portion and the complemental drain-board, and a coverhinged 'to the upper open end portion of said tank, said cover beingshallow in comparison'to'the depth of said tank and, when swung over thedrainboard and inverted, serving as "a'panforwater used in rinsingdishes and utensils, the rim-walls of said cover being marginallyprovided with a horizontal inturned anti-splash flange adapted to reston the upper open edge portion of the tank when the cover is closed oversaid tank, a bodily insertable removable U-shaped frame fittedtelescopically in said tank and enclosed by said cover when the latteris closed, said frame including parallel vertical end members, said endmembers having extensions at their upper ends, one of said extensionsbeing provided with a hand grip, the opposite extension being directedoutwardly and laterally to assume a horizontal position, the wall ofsaid tank adjacent said last-mentioned extension having a notch throughand beyond which the extension projects, brushes mounted for rotation insaid frame and confined Within the limits of said tank, a crank-shaftmounted in a bearing carried by said last-mentioned extension, and anoperating connection between the crank-shaft and brushes.

ROBERT WHITMOUR COULTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 527,507 Randolph Oct. 1.6, 1894617,599 Parry et a1. Jan. 10, 1899 823,323 Dungan June 12, 1906 861,647Goldsmith June 30, 1907 1,421,543 Olson July 4, 1922 1,575,942 ShaumanMar. 9, 1926 1,587,213 Brown June 1, 1926

